How they got here: The Chicago Fire earned their spot in Finals Week at Playoffs, entering as a No. 21 seed after finishing second in the Frontier division but tied on points with Real Colorado, the division winners. Battle tested in a division that ended with the top five teams separated by only three points, the Fire scratched out a draw in their first match in Greensboro and finished with two wins while giving up only one goal.

Leading scorer Victor Pineda netted two goals in the Fire’s final Playoff game to clinch advancement to Finals Week, giving the Fire a come-from-behind win after Westchester had gone up in the 13th minute. Elliott Borge and Henrik Egly each scored five goals on the season as well, distributing the attack. But it’s the team’s defense, led by goalkeeper Robert Euler that has carried them this far with 14 shutouts on the season.

How they got here:One of three U-15/16 clubs to be in Finals Week for the first time, northern California’s De Anza Force got their way into Playoffs through a wild card berth after finishing third in the Northwest division of the West conference. One of only two U-15/16 teams to get through Playoffs with three victories, the De Anza Force showed no difficulties in adjusting to the time difference or the hot weather, finishing strong with an emphatic 3-0 victory on their final match of the weekend.

Three players share the team-lead in goals scored on the year with seven - striker Hector Joya, midfielder Stefano Bonomo and defender Alfred Edmonds provide a stiff spine for the Force. But heating up at the right time is forward James Huffer, who scored three of the team’s six goals in Greensboro.

How they got here: The Mid-Atlantic division winners, D.C. United showed a potent offense by scoring eight goals during three games in Greensboro to earn a trip to Carson

Midfielder Cody Albrecht and forward Julian Griggs lead the team in scoring with nine goals each, but close behind is midfielder Marcus Salandy-Defour with eight. Together, the three have helped D.C. United overcome the loss of striker Andy Najar, who signed with the first team before the MLS season. Griggs helped pull D.C. into Finals Week, scoring two goals to overcome an initial strike by Real Colorado in the final game at Playoffs.

How they got here: Always a tough battle, Sockers FC have a penchant for refusing to lose, leaving matches with zero points only twice on the year. Part of the highly competitive Frontier division that sent four teams to Playoffs, Sockers FC will be playing against local and division rivals Chicago Fire during Finals Week group play.

Striker Khaliq McKenzie leads the team with 15 goals on the year along with an impressive 26 games started. Behind him in the midfielder, Thomas Arns has contributed eight goals himself this season. In the back, defenders Taylor Cole and Charles Giovenco have a 57 starts out of a combined 60 games, giving their defense a consistency that will come in handy during the pressure of Finals Week.

How they got here: The No. 2 seed heading into Playoffs, CASL Chelsea FC Academy is a juggernaut of offensive and defensive ability. Not content to simply outrace teams with 57 goals scored, the North Carolina squad has kept a stingy 0.43 goals against average. As a club, CASL Chelsea has sent at least one team to Finals Week every year, and last year both the U-15/16s and U-17/18s were present. With three shutouts in Playoffs, the U-15/16s are back to go for another shot at the national title.

Led up top by Monbo Bokar (20 goals) and Cooper Vandermaas-Peeler (16 goals), CASL Chelsea FC Academy have one of the strongest offenses in the Academy. Heading into Finals Week with a 13 game unbeaten streak, coach Carlos Somoano has his team firing on all cylinders heading out to L.A.

How they got here: Division winners in the Great Lakes division of the central conference, Internationals are at their first Finals Week after cruising through Playoffs. With two comprehensive wins in their first two games, the Ohio club earned their needed draw in the final match to clinch a spot in L.A. Though they haven’t played as many matches on the year as other clubs, Internationals are picking up speed at the right time.

Forward Nicholas Parianos leads the team with 12 goals, but with seven different players scoring in Greensboro, Internationals clearly have more than one attacking option. Matt Foldesy is second on the team in goals scored with seven, but leads the team in percentage of games started.

How they got here: Despite finishing second in their division to D.C. United, Baltimore possessed the league’s best points per game average, giving them the No. 1 seed heading into Playoffs. With an astonishing 21-game winning streak heading into Finals Week, it’s clear this team has its sights focused on claiming a championship.

Forwards Michael Gamble and Joseph Glos seemingly provide most of the offensive firepower for Baltimore, with Gamble netting 23 times on the year and Glos an even ten. Yet even that still only covers half the goals this team has scored on the year, leaving them plenty of other options for the attack. In defense, Michael Greene has played in 32 of 33 games on the year, starting 97 percent of them and will no doubt be a constant presence in the back at Finals Week.

How they got here: Winners of the always-competitive Northwest division, Cal Odyssey rocketed into Playoffs on the heels of an 8-1 victory in their last game of the season. With that confidence, one win and two draws was enough to advance to Finals Week in the parity-filled group. The U-15/16 team returns to Carson one year after losing in the championship match to the Derby County Wolves, looking for a chance at redemption.

Striker Gregory Antognoli II returns for the 2009 finalists after scoring 16 goals on the season to keep his team on point. Fellow striker Villyan Bijev tallied 18 of his own, but the two strikers combined still only equal just over half their team’s goals. Vicente Rodarte has been a constant facet of their midfield all season, starting 97 percent of their games.